Who’s Making a Name for Themselves?

Who&#8217;s Making a Name for Themselves?

Brady Peterson December 3, 2024 @ 08:47 AM

We're about two weeks into the season, and I'd like to highlight some lesser-known names who've played well early this season. So, let's get after it.   [player_tooltip player_id='533065' first='Rowan' last='Klesmit']   Had I made some assertions of who'd be the state's breakout star this season, it probably would've been Klesmit, and she hasn't disappointed. The Neenah guard is the one kid who can create her shot off the dribble regularly, and she's been a kid whose defenses haven't been able to slow down. As the Rockets' focal point, she's scoring 27 points per game on 61/91/39 shooting splits. Those will probably come down through FVA play, but that start is better than anyone could have expected from the junior guard.   [player_tooltip player_id='747942' first='Josie' last='Piurkowski']   Piurkowski's debut for Brookfield East against Kimberly was everything the new Spartan could've hoped for. The 5'10 wing scored the ball with lethal efficiency and played winning basketball against one of the premier programs in the state. Her ability to score adds a consistent second offensive option to the Spartans that they haven't had since Annika Pluemer graduated in 2023. We'll see if they can mimic the defensive success they've had these past few seasons, but East has looked solid in their first two games.   [player_tooltip player_id='974980' first='Kara' last='Trott']   In Bruce's first game, Trott did a little of everything. She created, played passing lanes well, and scored 23 points to lead her team to a win. No matter the level of competition the Red Raiders play, that will be the recipe for them to compete this season, and that's what they did on the road against Lac Court Oriellas.   Carly Pankratz   The Stratford guard has earned her fair share of steals this season, and some of those came from wayward passes against her team's zone, but she's shown that she can slide her feet and stay in front of opposing guards. Pankratz has put herself in good spots to make plays on the defensive end of the floor, which has led to her generating baskets in transition with assists or finishing herself.   Maddy Maloney   The 6'0 forward from Oconto Falls had an excellent senior debut against Menomonie Indian. Maloney knocked down six of her 14 three-point attempts and punished that 2-3 zone, knocking down a few three-pointers well beyond the three-point line. Time will tell if that trend continues throughout her senior season because she's improved her three-point percentage in the past two seasons. However, if she can shoot at a mid-30s percentage, I'd be interested to see if she generates interest from schools at the next level.   [player_tooltip player_id='914523' first='Ashley' last='Rowe']   The Cuba City guard is simply a talented, well-rounded basketball player. The Cubans haven't played their challenging stretch of games yet, but Rowe's a 16-point, six-assist, four-steal kid thus far. She's a creative presence who can create her shot off the dribble. Rowe is a talented guard who's shared a backcourt with one of the top senior guards in her class. Due to unfortunate circumstances, she has an opportunity to be the Cubans' focal point of their offense, and she's been excellent. Rowe could also be a SWAL POY-level kid.   [player_tooltip player_id='874583' first='Bronte' last='Hulberg']   What makes Hulberg effective is how quickly she makes decisions with the ball. She doesn't hesitate much with the ball and knows what she wants to do before the ball gets to her. Hulberg has been a solid offensive hub and paired well with the Bulldogs' post-player [player_tooltip player_id='649413' first='Ava' last='Wagner']. Early returns for the junior have been promising. Now, the test will be if she can sustain that level of play all season.

We're about two weeks into the season, and I'd like to highlight some lesser-known names who've played well early this season. So, let's get after it.